Goshen to discuss changing Ultimate Fighting ordinance

GOSHEN Â? Tuesday night, the Goshen City Council could revamp an ordinance that governs the sport of Ultimate Fighting in the Maple City.

"We've never had any problems at any of our events,Â? Ultimate Fighting promoter Alan Stockman told WSBT News.

For several years the fights have been held at the Peddler's Village Auction building.

In 2006, the city passed an ordinance saying the event could take place as long as it was sanctioned by the state.

Â?The way the old ordinance is set up, they have to be a sanctioned body to hold the Ultimate Fighting in the city of Goshen, which right now the state of Indiana does not sanction Ultimate Fighting, so that was one of the issues we were looking at,Â? explained Darryl Riegsecker of the Goshen City Council.

But state sanctioning has become expensive. The promoter wants the Goshen council to pass a new ordinance that would allow the fights to continue with just a city permit; not state sanctioning.

Â?The local promoter wants to have that changed so that he does not have to have that additional expense of a state or regional sanctioning body,Â? said council member Everett Thomas.

Sanctioning costs as much as $5,000; thatÂ?s on top of $12,000-$15,000 in expenses to put on a show.

Â?What we're looking for is that Goshen will regulate the fights Â? we do have some guidelines weÂ?ve been working on with them Â? they'll set them up accordingly and then we can continue on with the events as before,Â? Stockman said.

A new draft of the ordinance calls for a doctor to be on hand at all of the bouts. It would also set new guidelines for some fight moves Â? such as banning kicking an opponent in the head while he's down